Heating appliance with protective guard

ABSTRACT

A guard for heat-producing kitchen appliances having means for preventing contact with a heated member and means for insuring its use whenever a heating cycle is initiated.

[ 1 Aug. 12, 1975 United States Patent [1 1 Kemp [5 HEA'HNG APPLIANCEWITH PROTECTIVE 3,069.525 12/1962 219/342 3,125,365 Eigelbach GUARD3,556.624 Baltz. et 3.789.823 2/1974 Assignee: Raytheon Company,Lexington,

Mass.

Primary Examiner-Carrol1 B. Dority, Jr. Assistant E.\'aminerLarry I.Schwartz [22] Flled: Sept' 1974- Attorney, Agent, or FirmHaro1d A.Murphy; Joseph App1. No.2 503,006 D. Pannone; John T. Meaney [57]ABSTRACT A guard for heat-producing kitchen appliances having [52] US.126/42; 126/214 D [51] Int. A43B 21/36 [58] Field of Search......126/197, 273, 214 D, 39 B,

means for preventing contact with a heated member and means for insuringits use whenever a heating cycle is initiated.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 176/47 10 Claims, 6 DrawingFigures 2,778,356 1/1957 Pugach PATENTED AUG 1 21975 SHEET PATENTED AUG]2l975 3 898 I 975 sum 3 HEATING APPLIANCE WITH PROTECTIVE GUARDBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Ovens of the self-clean type which are usedin the kitchen usually operate at temperatures between 750 and 950 F orhigher. Although attempts have been made to thoroughly insulate the ovenfrom adjacent structure in a kitchen range, it has been found that someof the outer surfaces of the range become heated to an undesirablelevel.

In many ranges there is included a control panel which is positioned atthe top front portion for easy access to the control knobs. This controlpanel and adjacent front area of the range have been found to assumetemperatures during a self-clean cycle which are sufficiently highenough to cause burning of a persons skin when brought accidentally intocontact with the panel.

Furthermore, in conventional self-clean ovens, the oven is provided witha door latching mechanism which prevents the door from being openedduring a selfclean cycle. This latch is electrically connected to one ofthe control knobs so that even though the knob is positioned in theclean position, the cycle will not start until the door is fullylatched. However, once the door is latched and the self-clean cycle isunderway, there is no means for insuring that no physical contact willbe made with the consequently heated control panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing and other objections toconventional self-clean oven ranges are overcome by the presentinvention wherein a removable guard is placed over the control panelduring a self-clean operation. Furthermore, the door latching means isnormally rendered inoperable by means of a pivotal catch which isengaged by the latch and prevents movement thereof to the extentnecessary to latch the door and thereby to initiate a self-cleanoperation.

In further accordance with this invention the guard comprises an openwire structure which physically mounts over the control panel andadjacent front portion of the range and is held spaced therefrom by legsor projections. One of the legs is of a greater length than the othersso as to engage an opening therefor in the panel for retaining the guardin position. Furthermore, this leg is made long enough to engage thecatch which normally prevents operation of the door latch, and to movethe catch so as to release the latch, thus allowing the latch to movethrough its full travel.

Thus, the guard not only prevents contact between a person and a hotcontrol panel but also is provided with means which cooperates with thedoor latch to insure that the guard is always used during a self-cleanoperation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other advantages of theinvention will become apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a range employing a guard in accordancewith this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the top front portion of the range of FIG.1 showing the guard in place;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the oven door latch and catch,showing the relation thereof to the-guard;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the parts shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the operation of thelatch release mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the guard and control panelillustrating a modification of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly tothe drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like partsthroughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 one example of akitchen range of the free standing type commonly found in the market.Although a free standing range is shown and described herein, it is tobe understood that this invention may apply to any range or oven of theself-cleaning type where surface temperatures may assume undesirablyhigh levels.

The major portion of the range in FIG. 1 is of generally conventionalstructure embodying an oven 10 and a cooktop 12. The oven includes theusual frontopening door 14 with handle 16 and is pivotally supported toopen downwardly.

The cooktop 12 supports a number of burner or heater elements (notshown) over which grates 18 are mounted for supporting cooking utensilsin the usual manner. The range illustrated in FIG. 1 is a gas-fueledappliance, but it is to be understood that this invention is applicableto electric as well as gas appliances.

Along the top front edge of the range there is provided a control panel20 on which are mounted a selected number of control knobs 22, one ofwhich knobs is for the purpose of turning the self-cleaning cycle on andoff such knob may be located elsewhere, if desired. Details of theself-cleaning mechanism are not included herein since they may be foundin many readily available publications such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,121,158and 3,530,847. It is believed sufficient here to point out that theselected self-clean knob 22 is turned to on position whereupon allself-clean components are placed in a ready condition. Then the ovendoor is latched and locked whereupon suitable switching means areactivated to actually start the self-clean operation by energizing bothupper and lower heating elements in the oven of an electric applianceor, in the case of a gas appliance, actually permitting ignition andoperation of both upper and lower burners within the oven.

In many such self-clean appliances the oven door cannot be opened aftera self-clean cycle is under way until the oven temperature is permittedto drop to a predetermined safe level. One particularly efficientmechanism for achieving this is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,767wherein a complete door latching structure is shown and described.

It will be noted that all known door latching devices in self-cleanovens includes the usual manually operated handle 24, which extendsoutwardly through a slot in the front of the appliance above the door 14and beneath the control panel 20. Handle 24 is pivotally mov able abouta vertical axis indicated by line or point 25 in FIGS. 4 and 5.Referring particularly to FIG. 4, it will be seen that only a portion ofthe latching mechanism 27 is shown. Handle 24 may be moved transverselyfrom an unlatched position at the left to a latched position shown bydotted lines to the right, which movement will perform the actuallatching and locking function described in US. Pat. No. 3,540,767.Therefore,

reference to US. Pat. No. 3,540,767 should be had for all details notincluded herein. Suitable switch means 23 is mounted in a suitableposition to be operated by the handle 24 or other part of the latchingmechanism when the handle has been moved to latching position. Switchmeans 23 is shown herein as being mounted by a bracket 31 on plate 29 inposition to be engaged by handle 24 near the pivot 25 thereof. Switchmeans 23 cooperates with the selected control knob 22 to insure thatboth must be operated before a self-clean cycle will be initiated.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a guard 26 which isadapted to be mounted over the control panel to prevent accidentalcontact with the panel when it becomes heated during a self-cleanoperation of the oven. The guard performs a second function ofunblocking the movement of the latching handle 24 to permit the latch tobe operated to initiate the self-clean cycle, the handle being normallyblocked from performing this operation.

The guard 26 comprises, in one embodiment, a framework of longitudinallyextending wires 28 and additional wires 30 extending transverse to wires28 and fixed thereto as by welding at the points of intersection. Thisframework has a portion overlying the adjacent front portion of therange and a second angled portion overlying the control panel and knobs22. The ends of each of the wires 30 overlying the control panel 20 arebent downwardly to form short legs 32 which are adapted to rest upon thecooktop 12 for supporting the guard in position of use in proper spacedrelation to the control panel and knobs.

In one embodiment of this invention a catch 34 is provided beneath thecontrol panel 20 and above the latch handle 24 to normally prevent thehandle from moving to its full extent to operate switch means 23 forinitiating a self-clean cycle. The catch is a pivotal member having adepending portion 36 integrally joined to an angled portion 38 as shownin FIGS. 3-5. Portion 38 is pivoted to a pair of spaced lugs 40 by apintle 42 or the like which lugs are provided on the under side of panel20. Catch 34 normally hangs in the position shown by dotted lines inFIG. 5, and portion 36 carries at its lowest extremity a hook 44 whichis adapted to be engaged by handle 24 during its movement from left to'right. The catch 34 thus will prevent further movement of the handleuntil removed from the path of the handle.

In accordance with this invention, the catch 34 is removed from the pathof the handle 24 by means of one leg 46 of the guard 26, which leg ismade substantially longer than the other legs 32 and which extendsthrough an opening 48 in the control panel 20 into engagement with theangled portion 38 of catch 34. Leg 46 not only retains the guard 26 inposition but also depresses catch portion 38, causing portion 36 toswing upwardly, raising hook 44 out of the path of movement of thehandle 24. Thus, the handle 24 can be manipulated to its full extent tooperate switch means 23 and allow a self-clean cycle to start.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the handle 24 can not bemoved to the extent necessary to operate switch means '23 until thecatch portion 38 is depressed by leg 46, thus assuring also that theguard 26 is always in place before a self-clean cycle is started.

In a second embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. '6 there isprovided an electric switch 50 which is adapted to be connected into theself-clean circuit in a conventional manner similar to switch means 23for completing the initiation of the self-clean operation in cooperationwith operation of the selected control knob 22.

As shown in FIG. 6, guard leg 46 extends through opening 48 in the panel20 and engages and operates the switch 50 which is suitably supported asby a bracket 52 secured to the under side of panel 20. Thus, here againthe self-clean cycle can only be started with the protective guard 26 inplace.

The guard 26 may be provided with an opening between wires of sufficientsize above the selected selfclean knob to permit operation of the knobwhich it is desired to abort or discontinue the system and cool down therange after a self-clean cycle has started.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the objectives of thisinvention have been achieved by the invention shown and described,including a protective guard together with a fail-safe mechanism forinsuring use of the guard during a self-clean cycle in a kitchen range.It will be also apparent, however, that various modifications andchanges in the structures and methods shown and described may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention as expressed in the accompanying claims. Therefore, all

matter shown and described is to be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A heat-producing appliance comprising a housing having a panelsubject to high temperatures during operation of the appliance,electrical switch means within the housing, switch-actuating meansoperatively associated with said switch, and a guard removably mountedin covering relation-to said panel and having projecting means extendingthrough said panel for effecting operation of said switch when the guardis in position of use over the panel.

2. A heat-producing appliance comprising a housing having a panelsubject to high temperatures during operation of the appliance, a handleprojecting out through said housing and movable through a predeterminedpath of travel, catch means engageable with said handle for restrainingsaid handle from movement through its complete path, a guard removablymounted over said panel and having projecting means extending throughsaid panel into engagement with said catch means for moving said catchmeans out of movementrestraining relation with said handle.

3. A heat-producing appliance as set forth in claim 2 wherein said catchmeans comprises a hooked member pivotally mounted on the under side ofsaid panel and engageable by said handle and by said projecting means.

4. A heat-producing appliance comprising a housing including a panelsubject to high temperatures during operation of the appliance,electrical means including a switch mounted within the housing, and aguard removably mounted in covering relation to said panel and havingprojecting means extending through said panel into operative engagementwith said switch when the guard is in position of use over the panel.

5. A self-clean oven having a control panel, a hinged door closing oneside of the oven, latching means for said door comprising a handlemovable from an unlatched position to a latched position, a switchoperable by said latching means when the handle is in the latchedposition, and catch means positioned for engagement with said handle fornormally restraining movement of the handle to latched position, and aguard removably mounted over said control path, said guard havingprojecting means extending through said control panel into engagementwith said catch means for moving said catch means out ofmovementrestraining relation with said handle.

6. A self-clean oven as set forth in claim 5 wherein said guardcomprises a framework including a number of spaced longitudinallyextending members having a number of spaced transversely extendingmembers fixed thereto, selected ones of said members having projectionsdirected toward and engaging said oven for maintaining the guard inspaced relation with the control panel.

7. A self-clean oven as set forth in claim 6 wherein said projectingmeans is an extension of one of said members.

8. A self-clean oven as set forth in claim 5 wherein said catch meanscomprises a pivotal hooked member located in the path of movement of thelatching handle, a portion thereof disposed to be engaged by saidprojecting means when the guard is in position of use for swinging thehooked member out of said path.

9. A removable protective guard for a heating appliance having a toppanel, a front panel, and a control panel contiguous with said top paneland adjoining the upper end of said front panel, and having knobsthereon comprising a framework having a number of spaced bars extendingtransversely in overlying relation to said control panel and adjacentportion of the front panel, a number of spaced second bars fixed to saidtransverse bars, said second bars extending vertically in overlyingspaced relation to said portion of the front panel and having angledportions extending in overlying spaced relation to said control panel,and means at the ends of selected bars for engagement with said toppanel for supporting the guard in position of use.

10. A removable protective guard as set forth in claim 9 whereinspacings between selected bars overlying the control panel aresufficiently large enough to allow manipulation therethrough of controlknobs on the control panel.

1. A heat-producing appliance comprising a housing having a panelsubject to high temperatures during operation of the appliance,electrical switch means within the housing, switchactuating meansoperatively associated with said switch, and a guard removably mountedin covering relation to said panel and having projecting means extendingthrough said panel for effecting operation of said switch when the guardis in position of use over the panel.
 2. A heat-producing appliancecomprising a housing having a panel subject to high temperatures duringoperation of the appliance, a handle projecting out through said housingand movable through a predetermined path of travel, catch meansengageable with said handle for restraining said handle from movementthrough its complete path, a guard removably mounted over said panel andhaving projecting means extending through said panel into engagementwith said catch means for moving said catch means out ofmovement-restraining relation with said handle.
 3. A heat-producingappliance as set forth in claim 2 wherein said catch means comprises ahooked member pivotally mounted on the under side of said panel andengageable by said handle and by said projecting means.
 4. Aheat-producing appliance comprising a housing including a panel subjectto high temperatures during operation of the appliance, electrical meansincluding a switch mounted within the housing, and a guard removablymounted in covering relation to said panel and having projecting meansextending through said panel into operative engagement with said switchwhen the guard is in position of use over the panel.
 5. A self-cleanoven having a control panel, a hinged door closing one side of the oven,latching means for said door comprising a handle movable from anunlatched position to a latched position, a switch operable by saidlatching means when the handle is in the latched position, and catchmeans positioned for engagement with said handle for normallyrestraining movement of the handle to latched position, and a guardremovably mounted over said control path, said guard having projectingmeans extending through said control panel into engagement with saidcatch means for moving said catch means out of movement-restrainingrelation with said handle.
 6. A self-clean oven as set forth in claim 5wherein said guard comprises a framework including a number of spacedlongitudinally extending members having a number of spaced transverselyextending members fixed thereto, selected ones of said members havingprojections directed toward and engaging said oven for maintaining theguard in spaced relation with the control panel.
 7. A self-clean oven asset forth in claim 6 wherein said projecting means is an extension ofone of said members.
 8. A self-clean oven as set forth in claim 5wherein said catch means comprises a pivotal hooked member located inthe path of movement of the latching handle, a portion thereof disposedto be engaged by said projecting means when the guard is in position ofuse for swinging the hooked member out of said path.
 9. A removableprotective guard for a heating appliance having a top panel, a frontpanel, and a control panel contiguous with said top panel and adjoiningthe upper end of said front panel, and having knobs thereon comprising aframework having a number of spaced bars extending transversely inoverlying relation to said control panel and adjacent portion of thefront panel, a number of spaced second bars fixed to said transversebars, said second bars extending vertically in overlying spaced relationto said portion of the front panel and having angled porTions extendingin overlying spaced relation to said control panel, and means at theends of selected bars for engagement with said top panel for supportingthe guard in position of use.
 10. A removable protective guard as setforth in claim 9 wherein spacings between selected bars overlying thecontrol panel are sufficiently large enough to allow manipulationtherethrough of control knobs on the control panel.